During the period 1984-1988, the most recent five year period for which figures are available, the participation rate of women in economic activity increased from 30.9 per cent in 1984 to 31.1 per cent in 1988. From and including 1984 the figures were 30.9 per cent, 30.5 per cent, 30.9 per cent, 31.9 per cent and 31.1 per cent.
The approximate stability in the aggregate participation rate conceals major shifts in the composition of female participation. The most significant feature has been the participation rate of married women, which increased from 19.5 per cent in 1984 to 23.6 per cent in 1988. Other points to note were: the growth of women's participation in part-time work and a sharp decline in activity rates among women, and men, aged 15-19. This reflects a rise in participation rates in education.
These changes in the labour market provide the context for several initiatives which I have taken recently, including the Presidency seminar to assess the impact of the Internal Market on women's employment, the FÁS positive action plan to address issues of sex-segregation in the labour market, the review of the employment equality legislation, the preparation of legislation on employment protection of part-time workers, and the study of the measures that can be adopted to enable women to accommodate child care and career opportunities.